Posts Tagged ‘Christianity’

How Religious Belief Affects Charitable Giving

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

The December 9, 2006, issue of World magazine contained an interview with Arthur C. Brooks, author of the book Who Really Cares: the Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism. The book discusses, on the basis of statistical data, the difference between political liberals and conservatives in charitable giving.

Over the past couple decades, the media has been awash in propaganda suggesting that liberals are socially conscious, charitable individuals, while conservatives are greedy, uncaring intellectuals with unhealthy capitalist drives. But the data seems to suggest the truth is dramatically different than that.

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The Evils of Infant Baptism

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

If you asked most conservative Christians who believe in “believer’s baptism” what they think of infant baptism, you’ll probably hear answers like, “It’s unbiblical,” “It’s pointless,” “It may be harmless, but it has no particular value,” etc.

Because my own answers would have been similar to these, I was nothing short of stunned when, about 10-12 years ago in college, I ran across a rather hefty, thick volume entitled, The Evils of Infant Baptism. I never read the book, but I wondered that someone could put so much thought into what might seem such an esoteric topic. Infant baptism may be unbiblical—but evil? Evil enough to write a whole book about it?

I never thought about it much after that, until yesterday when I was doing research for a series of articles entitled “Our Heritage” that I am writing for 3ABN.

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This Samaritan Life

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

Tim Stafford writes on the Christianity Today website:

“Jews do not associate with Samaritans,” John says (4:9) in commenting on Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well. The two groups had a long and grievous history, like estranged family members. They had a partly shared worldview (both revered the Pentateuch, though in different versions), a shared point of origin (“our father Jacob,” as the woman put it to Jesus), and well-defined points of contention (where should you worship, at Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem?). They knew each other; therefore, they did not associate with each other.

Gospel-writer Luke tells us of the Samaritan village that refused hospitality to Jesus and his followers. Why? Because they were Passover pilgrims headed for Jerusalem. Samaritans didn’t like Jews doing their Jewish thing. James and John took the inhospitality for a religious affront; in fact, they were ready to firebomb the village (Luke 9:51–56). These groups had a familiarity that bred suspicion and mutual grudges.

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Our Shifting Culture

Saturday, August 11th, 2007

ChurchRelevance.com has posted a fascinating YouTube video on their website, highlighting some of the technology-related cultural shifts that are now impacting our planet, along with projections of future impact if these trends continue. I found it extremely interesting. You might be surprised at some of the points. Here is a random sampling of points culled by the ChurchRelevance.com editor:
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Rick Warren on Engaging Culture Relevantly and Biblically

Friday, May 4th, 2007

The website ChurchRelevance.com has had some great posts recently. Often it seems popular Christian thought is hopelessly muddled with pop psychology and post-modernist thinking. And among more theologically grounded Christian groups, culture and relevancy are topics that seem scarcely thought of. For that reason I am deeply encouraged to read someone clearly present a sound explanation of how the church should relate to culture.

The recent post, “Rick Warren on Engaging Culture Relevantly and Biblically,” is worth reading. I really like their posting style: bite-sized and “salty.” Definitely recommended reading.

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